Who is at risk of clinical deterioration? Adverse events among trauma patients undergoing intra-hospital transport for emergent computerized tomography

Computerized tomography is an essential element of the early diagnostic stages of trauma care for hemodynamically stable patients. However, there are inherent challenges and risks associated with the intra-hospital transport of critically injured trauma patients to the radiology suite and during the scanning process itself. We examined the frequency and nature of adverse events during computerized tomography among critically injured patients. This is a retrospective cohort study of adverse event in critically injured adult (>18 years old) trauma patients who underwent emergent computerized tomographic scan following evaluation in the trauma bay over a 22-month period who were either admitted to the intensive care unit or the operating room post computerized tomography. Data was abstracted from the hospital's trauma registry and chart review of electronic medical records. The frequency of adverse events during computerized tomography and the associated patient transport phases was recorded. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess the impact of adverse event on 7-day in-hospital mortality. Of the 526 critically injured trauma patients who underwent computerized tomographic scan during the study period, 17.3% (91/526) experienced one or more adverse event. The most common adverse events were hypotension n = 50 (9.5%), hypertension n = 18 (3.4%), initiation of vasopressors n = 11 (2.1%) and vomiting n = 8 (1.5%). One patient required re-intubation following endotracheal tube dislodgement and one patient required intubation following hypoxia post-sedation for agitation. Patient factors independently associated with adverse event were mechanical ventilation and blood product administration. When adjusted for injury severity score and age, patients who experienced adverse event were at increased odds of death (odds ratio: 2.2, 95% confidence interval: 1.11–4.36) compared to those who did not experience adverse event. Adverse events occur frequently in critically injured patients undergoing emergent trauma computerized tomography and may significantly impact clinical outcomes. This study provides important information to guide system and process-level improvements including optimized designs of the built environment and safety-informed protocols for high-risk patients undergoing emergent trauma computerized tomography.